FOR TIMBER, TRUSSES AND HARDWARE

All You Need to Know About Roof Trusses

When constructing a building like a house, a solid foundation and structures are needed in order to ensure that building stays in place and is able to support the huge load of both the roof and upper floors. Usually a timber framework is used to create a series of frames and supports, called ‘trusses’, that take the majority of weight from a particular roof support.

Timber roof trusses are important structural framework that creates the two ends of a roof that support the rafters and purlins of a roof. Having been invented in the medieval age, their supreme strength is found in their shape of a series of triangles that help push the weight off of the main joinery. This system of weight distribution is one of the most important design aspects when it comes to modern timber construction.

There are a number of different roof truss designs that are used in construction to create a particular type of roof or roof space for the designer. Out of all the different designs, there are two that are more common and which are found in the majority of modern homes.

The King Post Roof Trusses

The king post truss is a popular roof truss design that allows the weight of the roof to be redistributed into a horizontal position to keep the structure solid and stable. This design relies on 4 triangles shape that is built around the main vertical king post and supported by two slanted side supports called the principal rafters. These rafters are then secured to the king post via two struts that further redistribute the weight of the principal rafters down into the main tie beam.

The Queen Post Roof Trusses

The second popular roof truss design is called the queen post truss. This design allows for a large roof space to be incorporated into the design, allowing for a conversion into an extra living space. This design uses two principal rafters, and instead of the central king post, uses two queen posts on each side, supported by two side principal rafters and topped off with a horizontal straining beam on top.

Allowing you to create a larger space inside the roof area, the queen post roof truss is a popular choice for modern home builders as it adds an extra dimension to a home, allowing a future conversion into a loft space or as planned as part of the new build.

Timber Roof Trusses vs Steel Roof Trusses

Whilst steel is used in a large number of roof truss designs across the country, timber is also coming back in popularity for a number of reasons. Steel is often used in commercial and industrial constructions, when timber is mainly used in residential construction due to the lower costs as well as not being held to the same building regulations as some commercial properties may be.

Timber is also more fire resistant as a material than unprotected beams as it requires a higher temperature before it starts to be affected by the heat. Steel on the other hand becomes unstable at lower temperatures. Timber also develops a coating once it has caught fire, making it last longer in comparison to steel.

Whilst steel trusses are great for precision builds, it doesn’t require special treatment and protection against pests, mites and rot like timber may do. Though treating your timber as you build your roof is one way to avoid this problem, it still stands out as the only true disadvantage of timber over steel.

High Quality Timber Roof Trusses and Other Construction Essentials in Melbourne

If you are looking for the best roof trusses Melbourne has to offer, O’Sheas Timber has been in the business for over 25 years and has a huge range of roofing timber, including specialist trusses for your construction project. With a staff of true professionals that can advise you on a large number of building projects, O’Sheas Timber in Melbourne come highly recommended for their knowledge and professionalism from all over the state.